h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have the answer to your problem.
My friends told me all about it. It's so simple.
Move to Canada where houses and blocks of flats have electrical points to connect to car engines which have heating elements built in.
I trust this will be of assistance.

As I noted on another similar thread - remove the battery when it is going to get to -10 overnight. On todays news the low for Moscow was -9, so you might like to think about taking the battery out tonight!

You can get the car warmer thingy from a company called "Holts" in the UK, but I'd imagine there are more such things in Russia...

Thanks. Not actually a car owner here, which is why I really don't know anything about the topic. I need to know cos having written a piece of (canadian) wisdom in a thread Somebody decided to turn it into an entry, and so far it is a bit light, and entirely written by Brits, which is ok, of course, but when it comes to really cold weather......

Duncan, surely you got the shout on this. Your piece of (very good) advice is well on the way to becoming an entry.

And I knew the Canadians would have it sorted......

Why is it hard to start a car in cold weather?
It's not something people give much thought to, but there are three things which act together to make it difficult to start a car in the cold: First, fuel doesn't evaporate very readily at very low temperatures. Secondly the oil in the engine is thicker in cold weather so it is harder to "turn over" and thirdly the chemical reactions within a car battery which generate the power to the starter motor are reduced by cold, so your battery becomes less powerful.

How do I prepare for cold weather?
If you live in a country where you know its going to get cold a lot then your only real winner is to garage the car (and perhaps have a small mains heater for the engine bay - many manufactureres of this exist). Failing that you need to make sure that you have a good quality SYNTHETIC engine oil (which stays liquid even at -30) and high concentrations of antifreeze in the water system. Take the battery out of the car overnight and keep it inside in the house (but do NOT put it near a radiator, or anything a stupid as that!).

Oops - I messed up and my car is frozen - what can I do?
Firstly - a thing NOT to do. Don't pour water from a boiling kettle on the radiator...rapid expansion can damage the engine.
If you can, get a hair dryer and extension cord to heat the radiator until the "slushiness" is gone.

Oh, ace! I'll beetle this along to whoever.

Well it works like this:
Before you can start your car in cold weather, just as in hot weather, you have to have a car.
That is not to say that you *have* to have a car, but if you want to start it then having one is a minimum requirement.
Now about my Volvo, as you know they are from a land of ice and snow and I could let you have it for a very good price. One careful owner and about nine indifferent owners and, of course me, if you would care for a test drive ... drone ... drone ..

Are you trying to take advantage of a poor technical moron?

No,
but I'll give it a go if you can find me one.

A compliment b'gad. No-one has ever implied I am tecnologically competant before.

When one has my technical and mechanical ability, the best course is to make jokes. That way people are never sure whether to take the suggestions seriously. So, if it turns out to be a runner - people are impressed, if it's a loads of cobblers - they laugh with, rather than at, one.
There you are, 57 years of experience for your consideration. Use at your peril.
Wrap up warm.